Zara Daswani (@DaswaniZara) is an ITE trainee and is currently on placement in a rural school run by a major northern academy chain. She volunteered to take on a Black History Month initiative for her placement department. They were delighted with it and she has kindly agreed to share her work so we can all use it. Zara enthused her students to research and prepare to present about a famous black person from the past. Here is the resource: BHM resource Photos will follow soon!

Black History Month is coming to an end, but it is meant to highlight to us all the need to reflect the diverse past in our classrooms. Zara’s materials can be very easy adapted for a project at any time of year.

Her work comes as the Historical Association commits to with with the Royal Historical Society to address some of the problems that have been identified in its recently published research report. The ‘Race, Ethnicity and Equality report makes clear the lack of diversity in UK history at all levels. The key recommendation that applies to schools is:

The imperative need to widen taught History curriculums in schools and universities to challenge the racial foundations of the discipline and to reflect the full diversity of human histories.

The Historical Association will be taking forward more initiatives to help increase the diversity of our teaching. For example, following the blog from @JJTodd1966 earlier this month, we will be posting the results of this work with @MirandaKaufmann as soon as they are available.

Meanwhile, do follow the Historical Association @histassoc and on Facebook for the latest news, resources and events.